Five Douglas County middle school students recently signed scholarship contracts with the REACH (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen) Scholarship Program during a special reception and signing ceremony.
The 2025-2026 REACH Scholars represent five middle schools: Audrey Berrones from Chestnut Log Middle School, Madison McCoy from Fairplay Middle School, Diya Patel from Mason Creek Middle School, Roy Light from Turner Middle School, and London Moten from Yeager Middle School. Each scholar was selected through an application and interview process and has committed to maintaining strong academic performance, meeting regularly with mentors and academic coaches, and preparing for post-secondary success.
Former Governor Nathan Deal launched the REACH program scholarship initiative in 2012 as a pilot program in three Georgia counties: Douglas, Rabun and Dodge. Since then, REACH has grown to include 180 school systems statewide and more than 4,000 scholars.
The program provides comprehensive support including mentorship, academic coaching, and parent engagement throughout the scholars' middle and high school years. Upon successful completion of the program and graduation from high school, scholars receive a financial scholarship of $10,000 toward educational costs at any HOPE-eligible public or private post-secondary institution in Georgia.
"These five students represent the promise and potential that exists in every Douglas County classroom," said Dr. Trent North, Superintendent of Douglas County Schools. "Student success is a community effort that takes mentors, families, educators, and community partners working to help our students achieve their dreams. We are proud to support these scholars as they set their goals high and work toward their futures."
The program’s newest scholars have big plans after high school graduation. Berrones plans to attend Morehouse School of Medicine to become a psychiatrist, McCoy aims to become a neonatal nurse at Georgia State University, Patel will pursue business and finance at Georgia College and State University, Light has set his sights on computer engineering at Georgia Tech, and Moten plans to major in journalism and music psychology at Berry College, Georgia State or Georgia Tech.